[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E993-E994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING MEMBERS OF THE SRPD SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Santa Rosa

[[Page E994]]

Police Department's Special Enforcement Team (SET). I have named the 
team as Public Safety Heroes of the Year for Sonoma County in 
California's 5th District as a result of their extraordinary 
selflessness, dedication, and service to others.
  SET was established in July 2021 in response to a rise in violent 
crime within the city of Santa Rosa. That year, the Santa Rosa Police 
Department reported a 25 percent rise in weapons violations and an 8 
percent increase in aggravated assaults, including five homicides. 
SET's mission was to combat these trends via the confiscation of 
illegal firearms. The team prioritizes the interdiction of privately 
made ``ghost guns'' and monitoring repeat offenders. Initially, the 
team was comprised of Sergeant Terry White and Officers Jason Jucutan 
and Jeff Badger. These individuals were chosen because of their 
performance and experience within the Santa Rosa Police Department. 
Over the course of several months, the team conducted probation and 
parole searches, wrote and served search warrants, built relationships 
with confidential informants, supported the Special Services Division 
with major cases and responded to violent crime calls in support of 
patrol units.
  In 2021, the team seized 44 firearms, an increase of 29 from the 
previous year. Due to SET's immediate success, officers Dane Schindler 
and Brett Wright were added to the team in January 2022. In the first 
six months of 2022, the team has seized 49 ghost guns. In total, the 
team's work has led to a 75 percent increase in total gun seizures and 
a 179 percent increase in ghost gun seizures. Most important, shootings 
within the City of Santa Rosa have decreased by 31 percent since the 
team's inception.
  Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that the members of SET demonstrated 
an investigative skill and relentless devotion to our community's 
safety. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor them here 
today.

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